At the time, Mr Elferink, the NT Attorney-General, was an ambassador for White Ribbon Australia, a non-profit organisation that works to prevent male violence against women.

Libby Davies, chief executive of White Ribbon, described Mr Elferink's comment as "completely abhorrent" and a contravention of the role.

"We were shocked to learn that an ambassador had made such a statement and it was in complete contravention of the values, procedures and behaviours that are very much committed to by a White Ribbon ambassador.

"To refer to a metaphor or an action such as slapping another person is completely abhorrent as part of a campaign that is about gender equality and about the prevention of violence against women," she said.

On its website, White Ribbon says ambassadors are:

"... men who recognise the importance of men taking responsibility and playing a leadership role in preventing men's violence against women. White Ribbon Ambassadors are formal representatives ... who have the knowledge, skills, attributes and determination to influence Australian men to critically evaluate their attitudes and behaviours toward women."

I think he has got considerable learning to go through before he realises what the precursors of gender inequality in Australia are and how that is one of the key drivers to harassment, bullying and other forms of violence against women.

Libby Davies, CEO White Ribbon Australia, on John Elferink

Ms Davies said White Ribbon made the decision to dump Mr Elferink and it was during the communication of that he informed White Ribbon he was resigning.

"At the time he made the decision to stand down, our chair was in the process of contacting him to tell him that he had been stood down," Ms Davies said.

She said Mr Elferink had "considerable learning" to do on the issue.

How the 'Slap' comment row worsened:

John Elferink tells Parliament he is "really tempted to slap, figuratively speaking" Labor's Natasha Fyles during a debate

Mr Elferink, who was announced as a White Ribbon ambassador in 2014, is stripped of the role

"Language is very much involved with disrespectful behaviours, it's involved with sexual harassment, it's involved with bullying, it's involved with intimidation and that type of language is a precursor to the types of behaviours and attitudes that perpetuate violence against women.

"I think he has got considerable learning to go through before he realises what the precursors of gender inequality in Australia are and how that is one of the key drivers to harassment, bullying and other forms of violence against women."

Ms Davies said while Mr Elferink had apologised, he could no longer remain in the role.

"He was very apologetic for the language that he used, but he realised that it was detrimental to the values of being a White Ribbon ambassador, which is why he stood down," she said.

"It is heartening to see he has recognised the error that he has made and I hope that in going forward he understands and appreciates the relationship of language to the issue of prevention of violence against women, and the relationship of language to respectful relationships."

Tollner slammed for 'complete lack of understanding'

NT Treasurer Dave Tollner, who leapt to Mr Elferink's defence during a censure motion on Thursday night, was also singled out by Ms Davies.

Mr Tollner described a "culture of victimhood", which he said was "getting beyond the pale".

"Politics is not the business of the meek. If you are a thin-skinned person who can't take a little bit of criticism, you really shouldn't be in this place," he said on Thursday.

"I certainly wouldn't have apologised, I would have said 'toughen up, princess'."

Ms Davies said the comments by Mr Tollner showed a "complete lack of understanding" of how people should conduct themselves in a professional setting.

"To call someone a princess is a derogatory term, to call a fellow female colleague in such a manner displays a complete lack of understanding of the way in which language identifies the type of relationship that should exist between two professional colleagues and two people."

"Equally derogatory language and language that shouldn't be used, particularly in reference to a colleague either a female or a male," she said.

Fellow ambassador calls for Elferink to be counselled

Anti-violence campaigner Charlie King, a fellow White Ribbon ambassador who launched the program alongside Mr Elferink, called on Chief Minister Adam Giles to counsel the Attorney-General.

"We can't be bystanders in these sorts of matters. When people make those sorts of comments, we can't just sit back and say nothing," Mr King told 105.7 ABC Darwin radio.

"Giving an apology after you've said something like that is still not acceptable in my book. He needs to be taken aside. I hope that the Chief Minister does this."